Balance pad

ABSTRACT

A balance pad includes a base. A plurality of first pillars and a peripheral wall are uprightly disposed on the base. The peripheral wall surrounds the first pillars so that the first pillars are located within the peripheral wall. Thereby, the first pillars reduce the stability of the balance pad to increase the difficulty of doing balance exercise. The peripheral wall surrounds the first pillars, so that the first pillars can abut against the peripheral wall to avoid excessive inclination of the first pillars to cause injury to a user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pad, and more particularly to abalance pad for doing balance exercise.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional balance pad is a soft solid pad made of polyvinylchloride or nitrile rubber. When in use, the user maintains thestability of his/her body by exerting force on the balance pad, such asstanding on one foot, so as to achieve the effect of exercising therelevant muscle groups for rehabilitation, sports or training purposes.

However, the conventional balance pad is flat, so it has a fixed degreeof balance. By means of elastic compression, the stability of the user'sbody is reduced, and it is difficult to increase the difficulty oftraining. In addition, if the user steps on the outer periphery of thebalance pad unexpectedly, the foot support will be insufficient, whichmay lead to the risk of injury to the elderly or rehabilitation patientseasily. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devotedhimself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve theseproblems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a balance padthat improves the training intensity by reducing the stability of thebalance pad.

In order to achieve the above object, a balance pad comprises a base, aplurality of first pillars and a peripheral wall. The first pillars areuprightly disposed on the base. The peripheral wall is uprightlydisposed on the base and surrounds the first pillars so that the firstpillars are located within the peripheral wall.

The balance pad provided by the present invention reduces the stabilityof the balance pad through the first pillars to increase the difficultyof doing balance exercise. The peripheral wall surrounds the firstpillars, so that the first pillars can abut against the peripheral wallto avoid excessive inclination of the first pillars to cause injury tothe user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view in accordance with the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view in accordance with the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view in accordance with the preferred embodimentof the present invention when in use; and

FIG. 7 is another schematic view in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the present invention when in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top view in accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the present invention. The present inventiondiscloses a balance pad 100, comprising a base 10, a plurality of firstpillars 20 and a peripheral wall 30 that are integrally formed.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5 , the base 10 is a platy body with athickness. The underside of the base 10 has an anti-slip pattern.

The first pillars 20 are uprightly disposed on a top surface 11 of thebase 10. The first pillars 20 are polygonal pillars. Each first pillar20 includes a first top surface 21. The first top surface 21 has ananti-slip pattern. The first top surface 21 is connected with aplurality of first side surfaces 22. The first side surfaces 22 of everyadjacent two of the first pillars 20 face each other and are spacedapart from each other. Each first pillar 20 has a plurality of firstside curved surfaces 23. The first side curved surfaces 23 are disposedbetween a pair of adjacent surfaces of the first top surface 21 and thefirst side surfaces 22 to provide smoothness and comfort in use. In thisembodiment, the cross-section of the first pillar 20 is a regularhexagon. The first side curved surface 23 is formed at the end point ofthe regular hexagon. Each first pillar 20 has six first side surfaces22. The first pillars 20 are arranged at intervals along a firstdirection 24. The first pillars are arranged in a staggered manner alonga second direction 25. The entirety of the first pillars is in ahoneycomb-like shape.

The peripheral wall 30 is uprightly disposed on the top surface 11 ofthe base 10. The peripheral wall 30 is in the form of a hollowrectangular frame. A recess 31 is formed between the peripheral wall 30and the base 10. The peripheral wall 30 surrounds the first pillars 20so that the first pillars 20 are located within the peripheral wall 30.The height of the peripheral wall 30 is equal to the height of the firstpillar 20. The peripheral wall 30 includes two first side walls 32 andtwo second side walls 33. Two ends of each first side wall 32 areconnected to the second side walls 33. The first side walls 32 areparallel to the first direction 24. The second side walls 33 areparallel to the second direction 25. A first groove 321 is formed on thetop surface of each first side wall 32 adjacent to the recess 31. Theside surface of the first groove 321 is a convex curved surface. Asecond groove 331 is formed on the top surface of each second side wall33 adjacent to the recess 31. The side surface of the second groove 331is a convex curved surface. The first grooves 321 and the second grooves331 are connected in series to form an annular groove 34.

Each first side wall 32 is integrally formed with a plurality of secondpillars 40. The second pillars 40 are uprightly disposed on the topsurface 11 of the base 10. The second pillars 40 are polygonal pillarsarranged at intervals. The height of the first side wall 32 is equal tothe height of the second pillar 40. Each second pillar 40 includes asecond top surface 41. The second top surface 41 has an anti-slippattern. The second top surface 41 is connected with a plurality offirst end surfaces 42, a plurality of second side surfaces 43 and atleast one first connecting surface 44. The first end surfaces 42 areconnected to each other. The other end of each first end surface 42 isconnected to a corresponding one of the second side surfaces 43. Thesecond side surfaces 43 are jointly connected to the first connectingsurface 44. The first end surfaces 42 each face and are spaced apartfrom the corresponding first side surfaces 22. The second side surfaces43 of every adjacent two of the second pillars 40 face each other andare spaced apart each other. The first connecting surface 44 isconnected to the corresponding first side wall 32. Each second pillar 40has a plurality of second side curved surfaces 45. The second sidecurved surfaces 45 are disposed between a pair of adjacent surfaces ofthe second top surface 41, the first end surfaces 42, the second sidesurfaces 43 and the first connecting surface 44 to provide smoothnessand comfort in use. In this embodiment, the cross-section of each secondpillar 40 is a pentagon. The second side curved surface 45 is formed atthe end point of the pentagon. Each second pillar 40 has two first endsurfaces 42, two second side surfaces 43 and a first connecting surface44.

The middle portion of each second sidewall 33 is connected to acorresponding one of the first side surfaces 22. Two ends of each secondside wall 33 are connected to the corresponding second side surfaces 43,respectively. Each second side wall 33 is integrally formed with aplurality of third pillars 50. The third pillars 50 are uprightlydisposed on the top surface 11 of the base 10. Each third pillar 50 islocated between a corresponding one of the first pillars 20 and acorresponding one of the second pillars 40. The third pillars 50 arepolygonal pillars. The height of the second side wall 33 is equal to theheight of the third pillar 50. Each third pillar 50 includes a third topsurface 51. The third top surface 51 has an anti-slip pattern. The thirdtop surface 51 is connected with at least one second end surface 52, aplurality of third side surfaces 53 and at least one second connectingsurface 54. The other end of each second end surface 52 is connected toa corresponding one of the third side surfaces 53. The third sidesurfaces 53 are jointly connected to the second connecting surface 54.The second end surface 52 faces and is spaced apart from a correspondingone of the first side surfaces 22. The third side surface 53 faces andis spaced apart from the corresponding first side surface 22 or thecorresponding second side surface 43. The second connecting surface 54is connected to the corresponding second side wall 33. Each third pillar50 has a plurality of third side curved surfaces 55. The third sidecurved surfaces 55 are disposed between a pair of adjacent surfaces ofthe combination of the third top surface 51, the second end surfaces 52,the third side surfaces 53 and the second connecting surface 54 toprovide smoothness and comfort in use. In this embodiment, thecross-section of each third pillar 50 is a quadrangular. The third sidecurved surface 55 is formed at the end point of the quadrangular. Eachthird pillar 50 has a second end surface 52, two third side surfaces 53and a second connecting surface 54.

The material of the balance pad 100 is thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

Please refer to FIG. 6 . When in use, the base 10 of the balance pad 100is placed on the ground for the user to do balance exercise, with orwithout weight. The posture may be standing on one foot, standing on twofeet, lying down, sitting, kneeling, or elbow balance, etc. Because thefirst pillars 20, the second pillars 40 and the third pillars 50 arespaced apart from each other, the first pillars 20 are inclined to abutagainst the other first pillar 20, the second pillar 40 or the thirdpillar 50, respectively. In this way, the stability of the balance pad100 is reduced, so as to increase the difficulty of doing balanceexercise. Besides, the first pillars 20, the second pillars 40, thethird pillars 50 and the base 10 are all elastically compressed, so theuser needs to control the center of gravity to maintain balance, so thetraining effect is better. The second pillars 40 and the third pillars50 of the peripheral wall 30 surround the first pillars 20, so they canabut against the first pillars 20 to avoid excessive inclination of thefirst pillars 20 to cause injury to the user. The material of thebalance pad 100 is thermoplastic elastomer, so it has a better supporteffect to improve safety and training stability effectively.

Please refer to FIG. 7 . The balance pad of the present invention can beused in another way. The base 10 of the balance pad 100 faces upward.The degree of inclination of the first pillars 20 is less when in use.Therefore, it is easier for the user to control the center of gravity ofhis/her body and maintain balance. Thus, the difficulty of doing balanceexercise with the balance pad provided by the present invention can beadjusted according to the user's status.

In this embodiment, the cross-section of each first pillar 20 ishexagonal. The cross-section of each second pillar 40 and thecross-section of each third pillar 50 are about half of a regularhexagon, respectively. Therefore, when the balance pad 100 is used, thegaps between the first pillars 20, the second pillars 40 and the thirdpillars 50 are relatively low. The first pillars 20, the second pillars40 and the third pillars 50 are in surface contact with each other, sothe support effect is good and the safety in use is improved.

It is worth mentioning that the cross-sectional shapes of the firstpillars 20 and the peripheral wall 30 may be changed to other polygonal,circular or elliptical shapes according to the degree of stability. Thecross-sectional shapes of the second pillars 40 and the third pillars 50correspond to the shape of the first pillars 20.

What is claimed is:
 1. A balance pad, comprising: a base; a plurality offirst pillars, uprightly disposed on the base; a peripheral wall,uprightly disposed on the base and surrounding the first pillars so thatthe first pillars are located within the peripheral wall.
 2. The balancepad as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall is provided witha plurality of second pillars, the second pillars are spaced apart fromeach other, and the second pillars are spaced apart from thecorresponding first pillars, respectively.
 3. The balance pad as claimedin claim 2, wherein each first pillar includes a plurality of first sidesurfaces, the first side surfaces of every adjacent two of the firstpillars face each other and are spaced apart from each other, eachsecond pillar includes at least one first end surface, and the first endsurface faces and is spaced apart from a corresponding one of the firstside surfaces.
 4. The balance pad as claimed in claim 3, wherein the atleast one first end surface includes two first end surfaces, the firstend surfaces of each second pillar are connected to each other, anotherend of each first end surface is connected to a second side surface, thesecond side surfaces of every adjacent two of the second pillars faceeach other and are spaced apart each other.
 5. The balance pad asclaimed in claim 4, wherein the peripheral wall is provided with aplurality of third pillars, and each third pillar is located between acorresponding one of the first pillars and a corresponding one of thesecond pillars.
 6. The balance pad as claimed in claim 5, wherein eachthird pillar includes a second end surface, the second end surface facesand is spaced apart from a corresponding one of the first side surfaces,either end of the second end surface is connected to a third sidesurface, and the third side surface faces and is spaced apart from acorresponding one of the first side surfaces or the corresponding secondside surface.
 7. The balance pad as claimed in claim 4, wherein a topsurface of the peripheral wall is formed with an annular groove.
 8. Thebalance pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base, the plurality offirst pillars and the peripheral wall are integrally formed.
 9. Thebalance pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein each first pillar is ahexagonal pillar.